For the Springboks’ opening Rugby Championship Test of the year against the Wallabies this Saturday, coach Jacques Nienaber and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus are expected to mix and match with their selections.
Several first-choice players will start against Australia, while a few others will head to New Zealand in preparation for the next clash against the All Blacks in Auckland.
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Some of the big-name stars who will feature this weekend, though, include the likes of Willie le Roux, Lukhanyo Am, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi and Duane Vermeulen, who is set to captain the team in the absence of Siya Kolisi.
Meanwhile, the one uncapped player in the Springboks squad – Jean Kleyn – is set to make a sensational Springbok debut. The 29-year-old has in fact featured in a handful of matches for Ireland at Test level, but the Linden-born lock has qualified for South Africa as per the new World Rugby rules after serving a stand-down period of three years from international rugby.
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THE FIRST SPRINGBOKS TEAM OF THE YEAR COULD LOOK LIKE THIS
The starting XV at Loftus Versfeld is expected to look like this: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie/Jean Kleyn, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nché.
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All in all, it’s still a very strong side, with a mix between Springbok regulars and a few ‘fringe’ players.
* Let us know by clicking on the comment button at the end of this article if you feel this is what the first Test team of the year could look like?
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BOKS TRAINING SQUAD:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92).
Hookers: Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers), RG Snyman (Munster), Jean Kleyn (Munster).
Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Ulster), Jasper Wiese (Leicester).
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Utility Forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat).
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Elton Jantjies (Agen).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).
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